Foot protector against sting ray



Sept. 6, 1938. E. MONTANO FOOT PROTECTOR AGAINST STING RAY Filed Sept. 28, 1956 INVENTOR Elizabefh Mon+ano 4 1% 2 A vs vs y ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a protector to be placed on the feet of the surf bathers for protection against the sting-ray or the like.

It is well known that in a large number of localities along the surf shore the sting-ray is very numerous and causes considerable danger and inconvenience to surf bathers as its habits are to lie flat on the ground in the surf and as the surf bathers step on the sting-ray it throws a stinger into the foot which is very painful and requires considerable treatment. Therefore, the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide flexible metallic footwear members adapted to fit the feet of surf bathers so that the water will readily pass through the metallic flexible material, but will prevent the effect of the sting-ray;

Second, to provide a protector of this class which is flexible enough to conform to the foot of the wearer and yield therewith while playing in the water;

Third, to provide a protector of this class which covers the entire foot to above the ankle so that the entire foot is covered with a foraminous metallic covering over the whole area to above the ankle;

Fourth, to provide a protector of this class which overlaps at the upper portion where it is secured to the foot so that there is no danger of 30 any open space not being covered by the metallic flexible covering;

Fifth, to provide a protector of this class which is light and comfortable to wear; and

Sixth, to provide a protector of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efiicient, durable, and. easy to apply to the feet of the wearer.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of cerw tain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly et forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my foot protector complete; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary inside view of the flexible metallic material of which the protector principally is made, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing:

My protector consists of a sock-like member I shaped to fit the foot of the wearer and consists mostly of flexible metallic woven material forming a foraminous metallic flexible mesh, the solid portion 2 being substantially the size as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing and provided with four extended fastener portions 3 Which fit annular members 4, thus permitting the relative shifting of the members 2 and 4 relatively to each other so that all of the members 3 and 4 are relatively shiftable providing a flexible metallic material. This sock-like member I is made of this flexible material shaped to substantially fit the foot and is flexible and yieldable therewith. At the upper front portion the material is lapped at 5 so as to form a protection against an open space at the open front portion. It is provided with straps 6 and 1 provided with buckle B positioned at the instep for securing the folded portion over the instep and is provided around the upper end with a strap 9 secured to the upper end and provided with a buckle Ill for securing the upper end around the leg above the ankle.

However, it is obvious that a zipper may be used for connecting the open front side in the conventional manner in lieu of the buckle 8 and straps 6 and I if desired.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions and suggested slight obvious modifications, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is:

In a foot and ankle protector against sting ray, a smooth surfaced heelless sock-shaped member made of light foraminous metallic flexible material throughout consisting of a plurality of plate-like members of substantially rectangular form interlocked with a plurality of ring like members whereby said members are relatively shiftable and forming an armor for the foot and above the ankle for surf bathing and swimming, said sock-shaped member provided with an opening at the front side with overlapped portions and means for securing the open front portions together in overlapped relation.

ELIZABETH MONTANO. 

